Had the Delhi Police come on time after Dr Pankaj Narang called up the Police Control Room (PRC) around 12.45 am on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, he would have been alive today. His neighbours too failed him as they did not respond to his cries for help.
The distraught son and widow of Narang watched in horror as killers bludgeoned him with iron rods, wooden clubs and bats. Dr Narang’s brother-in-law Vikas Sethi who had come to celebrate holi with him tried his best to free him from the clutches of the murderers but failed.
Dr Narang, a dentist, was married to Dr Upma for last nine years and had an eight-year-old son.
Recalling the ill-fated incident, a relative of Narang demanding anonymity said, “He was a happy man and was enjoying cricket at night with his and his sister’s family… Who knew that was the last time they were together.”
“They had dinner together and were watching India vs Bangladesh World T20 Cup match... Soon after India won; Narang’s son asked him and his cousin (Narang’s nephew) to play a cricket match at the passage of their white bungalow.”
The street that locates Narang’s bungalow also houses many coaching centres alongside. The same street has one hospital named Anand hospital — ten metres from Narang’s Bungalow.
It was 12:15 when Narang’s son had arranged a bat and a rubber ball and started playing cricket. It was 12:45 at night when a Pulsar 150 grazed Narang’s son leading to a verbal fight between Narang and Naseer, the motorcyclist. Naseer was accompanied by a minor.
It is alleged that Narang took out accompanied by a minor motorcycle key and scolded the duo. later, as the argument heated up, Narang apologised — but apparently it was too late. The duo left and returned with a pack of people hailing from JJ clusters and attacked Narang.
“Though I was not present at the night, yet what I heard from the family is terrifying,” said one of Narang’s friends, Hemant. “A petty issue transformed into a major life-taking incident… The rubber ball they were playing with, hit the tyre of the bike, following which Narang lost his life,” added Hemant, who lives next to Narang’s clinic in West Delhi.
Meanwhile, another relative alleged Police’s late arrival being the reason of Narang’s death. “Narang called the PCR when the duo left after the first scuffle but police only arrived when he was already beaten badly,” said a relative.
However, DCP (West) Pushpendra Kumar said, “The whole incident took place within 5-7 minutes as the accused lived mere 150 metres away from the doctor’s place… The accused duo left the place after first altercation and in another five minutes came up with 14-15 people.”
Narang was dragged by the assailants from his bungalow till few meters, in front of Anand hospital and was beaten with iron rods and bricks. His brother-in-law, Vikas Sethi, who came in defence, was also thrashed by the accused. When Narang fell unconscious on the floor, the mob ran away. He was first admitted to Anand hospital and later a team of police officials rushed him to Mata Chanan Devi hospital where he succumbed to his fatal injuries.
“There were 15 people who were allegedly involved in the murder. We have arrested five persons and detained four juveniles and six accused are still at large. We are scanning the CCTV footage to identify those who are absconding,” the DCP added.